Urban Traps

Ha!  These Urban Traps cracked me up.  They are fake bear traps filled with all the right bait to catch specific types of New York City dwellers.   Aaron Glazer and his fellow street artists have been setting the traps up around the city.  Above is a Hipster Trap, set up in Williamsburg, complete with PBR, fixie bike chain, and a pair of plastic neon glasses.  Another trap, the Bridge and Tunnel Trap, includes hair gel, spray tan, and a gold chain.

I can't wait to see more.  Tourist Trap please!  Must include foam Statue of Liberty Hat.

Pothole Gardens

Graphic design student, Pete Dungey, created Pothole Gardens as part of an ongoing series of public installations trying to bring attention to the problem of surface imperfections on Britain's roads.  He fills the potholes with dirt, and plant flowers in the middle.  Pete illustrates the scope of the poor repair of Britain's roadways by says "If we planted one of those in every hole, it would be like a forest in  the road."

I'm not sure this is the best (or safest) solution to potholes, but I appreciate the sentiment and the idea of using street art (literally in this case) to turn a negative into a positive.

Candy Corn Street Art

A little Halloween flavored street art from Diabetik. (Found through the Wooster Collective).

Dark Doings

Street artist Dan Witzis previewing his newest project, Dark Doings. He has created intreging glimpses of narative through the windows of doors. There are two aspects of this work that make it particularly engaging. The implied exhibitionist aspect of subjects, and the voyeuristic aspect of the viewer. I'm wondering what my own reaction would be to passing this on the street. (Found through Wooster Collective).

Office of Blame Accountablility

The Office of Blame Accountability... because sometimes you just need to get if off your chest.

The Office of Blame Accountability is a street art project by Geoff Cunningham and Carla Repice.  It allows users to fill out a blame form or record an audio conversation with someone that they hold accountable for something.  Since 2007 they have collected hundreds of accountabilities.  They describe themselves as "A collaboration with the American public that follows a growing need for art that sees the viewer as a producer and participant".

Walls Notebook

If you are a wannabe street artist like me, you will probably appreciate this idea.  The Walls Notebook was created by Mihoko Ouchi and Sherwood Forlee.  It is a notebook of "blank" New York walls for you to sketch on.  There are 80 inspirational backdrops in all, ready and waiting for your tag.  I can't wait until my copy arrives!

Do Not Paint Here

Haha!  I appreciate vandals with a sense of humor.  Especially conversational ones.

Street with a View

Artists Robin Hewlett and Ben Kinsley have managed to make street art out of Google's Street View in their project Street with a View.  They decided to blur fiction and reality to create the most interesting alley in the US.  They figured out when Google Street View would be recording the images for a small street in Pittsburgh and then decided to throw an event.  All of the scheduled activities were variations on the truth... a parade, a marathon, a heroic rescue, and more.  Check out a video the Sampsonia Way activities in progress here.

The Village Pet Store

Sigh... I'm falling in love with Banksy all over again.  I know this has been on all the blogs today but it's such a brilliant idea, that I couldn't pass over posting it here as well.  Banksy's newest exhibit in New York comes in the form of a pet store.  The Village Pet Store and Charcoal Grill is now the home to a leopard print coat, hot dog hamsters, fish stick fish, chicken McNuggets drinking BBQ sauce, and my favorite, nesting CCTV cameras.  All the "pets" are animated and viewable from within the small store, or from the street.  Be sure to watch the videos for the full effect.

Banksy's comments on the exhibition were 'New Yorkers don't care about art, they care about pets.  So I'm exhibiting them instead'. I'm swooning at the bad attitude.  For more info check out Wooster Collective's coverage.

Sidewalk Psychiatry

Candy took notice of the fact that in most people's busy, lives one of the few times they have a moment to be alone with their thoughts is while they walk around the city.  She points out that 'A routine trip can prompt reflections on everything from future goals to last night’s dinner conversation'.  Candy created a project called Sidewalk Psychiatry to help pedestrians along with their deep thoughts.  The project encourages self evaluation through sayings painted on city sidewalks.  The sayings include 'Then why did you do it?' and 'And whose fault is that?'.

In Case Of Civil Unrest...

I never get bored of witty, positive street art.  This sidewalk art reads: In case of civil unrest... remove cement, break into pieces, and throw. (Found though Wooster Collective).

You are beautiful

You ARE beautiful! All of you!  This site gives out stickers that say YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. People post them around their city and then send back photos. Yes, I know this a form of vandalism but seriously, how can you not like this idea?

Banksy

>If you are not familiar with Banksy's work, check it out at www.banksy.co.uk.  Banksy is a British graffiti artist known for his controversial work that often pokes fun at political issues and modern society. His works can be seen on the streets of London and in other cities around the world.  Some of his most well known works are the 9 images he painted on the Palestinian side of the Israeli West Bank barrier depicting children playing in front of large holes in the wall.

The Banksy website has a good collection of his work and now includes a Shop where you can download large format images of his work for free.  While you are there also check out the Mail section.  There are some pretty entertaining emails from fans and critics. (Thanks Q)